The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Do you think it is possible for the pastors who have come out in opposition to proposed citizenship amendments have the courage to voice their concerns from their pulpits? If they have done so I would really like to hear those sermons.

I recall, especially in the public sessions that were held at my home church and the Bar Association office that there was a particular consensus among the majority of Church leaders, that they really did not have a problem with bills one, two and three and that the administration at the time could have just passed those amendments. What has happened between then and now? It seems that too many “Religionists” only find their voices if they find themselves under an administration that they are not able to benefit from; and their inclination to disagree has a “political tinge” to it that is apparent to all who would observe objectively.

Is there a “double double mindedness” going on here that has to be addressed? The pulpits in this nation speak to a population where at least 45,000 persons are deemed stateless, because of previous administrations refusal to do what we said we would do in 1973.

We have twiddled our thumbs and are now at a point where the combination of this situation and a lax immigration process have us facing a “God only knows” scenario. We do not need a referendum to begin dealing with this issue. I am waiting to see if any “fellow pastors” have the courage to address this misstep.

Maybe it is ultimately about that faceless status quo that we all refer to but are never able to put a finger on; where persons use the Bahamian club to keep the “modern Bahamas” in line with their misguided perceptions. If some pastors cannot get this right, what confusion must be happening in the pews.

The pastors who oppose these amendments, should recall what Bill #4 was all about and why they were so against it. The word “sex” would have become an attribute which would have resulted in a “flawed” legal document and this would have left it up to the courts to decide what “sex” meant. Up to this point, all of the progress made by those who would benefit from such an interpretation have relied heavily on the legal system. They have not had much success through “majority vote”.

Since we are taking everybody to task on their missteps, I am just making a contribution to see that no one or group is left out.

EDWARD HUTCHESON

Nassau,

November 16, 2017.